St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-08-13
As PETE.

eULLFINcHEs As PETS.
Dsvossoa WlsA which rA.y n...-. A,
eseAsa - ThearO vusra
mere is no animal with which 1 am
acquainted. not even that friend of
man." the dog. that forms 90 firm. so
devoted. so tender an attachment for
It's master or mistress as the bullfnch
the naturally shy and w~ood-loving
~ooiihnch. that almost dies of terror
when first caught, but becomes more
readily r~econciled to captivity than any
bird I know.
word, however. to my readers here:
90 not buy n OF these too charming
birds unless you have leisure and love
enough TO make it your companion, to
Keep 1t on your study table or in your
boudoir. talk to il, whistle to it, feed it
with tidbits. and teach it to love you
When you have won its confidence,
which. with gentle perseverance on
your part. will not tske long. your care
% attention will lie more than re-
warded by the empvesscmenl with which
u vail greet your return from your
business or your pleasure; it will hop
down to the door Of the cage IS soon
~ it sees you enter the room, and in.
vlte You with the most fascinating of
bows to let it out and perch upon your
nnser. where it will talk to you in its
sweetest tones. and rub its dear black
velvet poll against your cheek or on
your hand. PAIRING the while with the
Purest and h'ost unalloyed pleasure. 1t
Will even try to feed you. and instead
OF feeling offended and annoyed-one
lady who wrote to me used the word
''disgusted"-by this profoundest mark
OF its affection. feel correspondinglv
grateful. and bless your stars that you
have indeed . friend. one who would
die for you. and will, too. il you are
cruel enough or thovghtless enough to
slight it or forget it.
do not say that there are no other
birds capable Of becoming dcvotcdly
attached to their owners, but I do A.
nrm that not one Of them equals the
bullhnch in this respect True, l have
known parrots that displayed quite .
romantic affection for their master or
mistress. and yet. when parted from
them. snlked perhaps for q few DAYS,
U in the end accepted accomplished
facts. and, acting upon the advice OF
the poet. when they could not be near
the dear ones they loved, made love to
those who were near. which. under the
circumstances. was doubtless the most
thing they could do. But
'Bully" is compact of far other clay,
and l again entrest my reader not to
buy him unless they mean to love him,
to neglect him is to torture him,
and most cruelty kill him. too.
What . pretty bird he is! and vet
writers have described him as
clumsily made. Fie upon them! Can
any thing be more symmetrical than his
form. or more quietly beautiful than
the varied tints of his many-colored
coat, or. l should say. costumel velvety
black and iosy red and delicate lavender
gray form . charming combination Of
not M of which il obtrusive or
kills" another, . the ladies say, but
is rather enhanced by the rest. the three
different shades forming a sous-essemble
hat is simply perfect
A newly captured bullfinch may DO
purchased for three or sour shillings,
but n that has been tanned aud edu-
Gated will often be sold for twenty
and I have no hesitation in
that it is worth the money il it
8 like one dear bird l once possessed.
hat was Is loving. sensible ard accom-
as q bird could be. hope that
re was happy while he called me mas
er. and l believe he was; 1t least
nov that he preferred my society to
hat Of a lady of his own species. who
ras quite . beauty in her way. and .
cry clever little thing to boot: but he I,
injured her, nothing more, and I never ,
aw hin, kiss her once all the time they
wed together. though he would have {
and carcssed m all day long if I
'ould allow him.-D. ". +. Greece. f,
. HGspeS's MAGAZINE. !